The Biden administration struck a deal with environmentalists to safeguard recovery efforts for the endangered Rio Grande silvery minnow, agreeing to enforce conservation measures on the drought-ravaged river.
The Bureau of Reclamation, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and WildEarth Guardians, along with the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, filed a settlement agreement Tuesday in their two-year legal battle in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico.
The settlement mandates that Reclamation initiate a new Endangered Species Act Section 7 review — ensuring that its Middle Rio Grande operations and maintenance activities do not harm listed species or their habitat — within 30 days. The FWS will be required to issue a new biological opinion by Oct. 30, 2028.
In addition to the silvery minnow, the process will address the Southwestern willow flycatcher, Western yellow-billed cuckoo and New Mexico meadow jumping mouse.
